A “Passion” for Women’s Health

Planned Parenthood kicks off two weeks of “Pasch-ins” before Election Day

Traditionally, throughout both Republican and Democratic administrations, Wisconsin has had a strong commitment to providing family planning services to the uninsured, including cervical cancer screenings, breast and well woman exams, testing and treatment for STDs and access to birth control.

Providing such basic preventive care to uninsured women is a critical piece of our public health infrastructure in Wisconsin.  The cost savings (upwards of $140 million and 11,000 unintended pregnancies annually, according to the WI Department of Health Services) have been well documented by non-partisan organizations for many years.

Throughout her career, Representative Sandy Pasch has been a vocal supporter of women’s health and last session she voted to support the many proactive initiatives Planned Parenthood and other public health advocates worked to pass.  In fact, Rep. Pasch was the lead sponsor for the Expedited Partner Therapy bill, which was a landmark public health law passed last session ensuring that Wisconsin law matches the CDC guidelines for treating some of the most common STDs that can cause infertility.  Without a doubt, Representative Pasch has been an outstanding champion for women’s health in her professional and legislative careers. 

Because we know that electing lawmakers with a “passion” for reproductive rights makes such a big difference for the health of Wisconsin women and families, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is launching two weeks of “Pasch-in.”  We’ll be knocking doors, making calls and organizing fun community events to help elect Sandy Pasch to the state Senate.  We’re kicking off the effort with a Planned Parenthood Kickball game Tuesday, July 26 at 6:30 pm at Estabrook Park Soccer Field 4. 

Access to preventive reproductive health care for all women, particularly women without health insurance, is a basic economic issue. One need only look at the latest jobless numbers in Wisconsin to see that taking away health care from women and families who are already struggling is the wrong priority right now. 

Of all people, we thought Senator Darling—a former board member at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin—would understand just what is at stake.  During her tenure on the board, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin was doing the same type of work we do now: providing high quality reproductive health care and accurate, honest community education about sexuality and reproductive health to those who are in need.

Yet Senator Darling introduced the motion in the Joint Finance Committee that defunded Planned Parenthood—the state’s largest, oldest and most trusted reproductive health care provider.  Her amendment eliminated state support to nine health centers serving 12,000 patients in small communities like Kenosha, Fond du Lac, Oshkosh and WI Rapids. 

But it’s not just funding to Planned Parenthood health centers that Senator Darling went after.  The budget is such an ideological attack on uninsured women cared for at Planned Parenthood that we can no longer partner with the state lab for processing cancer-detecting Pap tests taken at our health centers.

Both during this budget process and in the last few legislative sessions, Senator Darling repeatedly voted against women’s health and public health initiatives, such as comprehensive sex education—even when asked to support these commonsense measures by her own constituents. Senator Darling has also led in the effort to remove legislative oversight over health programs and instead to consolidate an unprecedented amount of power in the office of unelected political appointees.

Because Senator Darling turned her back on uninsured Wisconsin women and families and sided with extreme political groups over her own constituents, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin has no choice but to work our hardest to protect women’s health and lives—and to elect people who champion these values.  

Thankfully, voters in the North Shore have the opportunity to elect an independent-minded state Senator who will rely on the facts and scientific research when she casts a vote on health care policy.

Visit www.ppawi.org to join us in the effort to make sure your neighbors vote for Sandy Pasch on August 9.

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Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is the advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, the state's largest and most trusted reproductive health care provider. PPAWI educates and lobbies on behalf of reproductive rights and works to elect candidates who support family planning and a woman's right to choose.